I have a stockpile of primarily fp4 & hp5.
Concerned about HP5 - as I have quite a bit.
How long can I keep it stored frozen - before visible issues arise?
Anyone have real world experience with long term storage?
Want to use it before the issues, yet not have to rush to use it either!
Thanks in advance.
I have some HP5 from 1984 in my film canister collection. Always refrigerated and was 0.68 log D about 7 years ago last I checked.
Is your film already expired? What I have done in the past is sell the expired film to fund fresh film for my own use.
I did just get some unexpired HP5 from freestyle yesterday but have not processed any to see how fogged the current supply is.
I just opened a box of Arista Pro 400 from 2006. It's been frozen and in double zip lock bags since the day I bought it. My understanding is that this film was simply rebadged HP5, and I've never seen any differences in either ISO or developing times between it and film labeled HP5, so I believe that. The negatives from my initial film test showed I was still getting ISO 200 (which is what I have always rated HP5) and they show contrast not much different. I don't own a densitometer, so I can't do any scientific tests, but I'm sure not going to hesitate to use this film.
It depends on (obviously otherwise harmlessly low-level) background radiation. Some places have more than others and it will reportedly fog film even in the freezer. Old film is always a risk, so test it if critical.
Rick “who has a lot of old color film in the freezer” Denney
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